Bronson, Holder win Four Ball state championship

TUSCALOOSA | Hunter Bronson and Brinson Holder came out on top to win the 31st State Four Ball Championship at NorthRiver Yacht Club on Sunday.

By Manal YousifSpecial to The Tuscaloosa News

TUSCALOOSA | Hunter Bronson and Brinson Holder came out on top to win the 31st State Four Ball Championship at NorthRiver Yacht Club on Sunday.Bronson and Holder shot 12-under-par in the stroke play qualifying to take top medalist honors.The Mobile natives played previously in the State Four Ball Championship back in 2009 and have played golf together since high school. Bronson and Holder graduated from the University of Alabama and Bronson walked on UA’s golf team as a senior.“We have been playing with each other for a while, and it helps to know each other’s game. We played in the Steelwood Invitational tournament a couple of weeks ago to help us prepare for this tournament,” Holder said.Bronson and Holder eliminated Jake DeZoort and Tyler Hitchner 4 and 3 in the match play semifinal round and then beat Bo Farlow and John Fulkerson in the championship, 2 and 1. Farlow and Fulkerson earned a spot in the championship after beating the team of Tommy Coggins and Doug Davis, 2 and 1.Bronson commended DeZoort and Hitchner at the end of their round for making it this far.“They made it clear that anybody can play anywhere. They have a lot of game and I hope they keep it up. I will be rooting for them.”Getting ready for the championship match-up, Bronson said afternoon play is more of his element and he certainly displayed that.Bronson carried his team by making key shots and winning holes to help them beat Farlow and Fulkerson.Bronson and Holder both agreed that after a long day, reaching the 8th or 9th hole (in the final) wears you out and it is exhausting, but they refused to let up. “We came in with no expectations, but to win a state title is pretty exciting,” Bronson said.Holder showed his respect for his childhood friend and teammate by giving him praise on a job well done.“I have always considered Hunter as the better player and it is fun to play out here with him and watch him do well and I just try to make the pars if he has a bad hole. I have always been proud of him and we make a good team.”Winning runs in Bronson’s blood, as he won the Class 4A Alabama High School State Championship in 2004 for UMS-Wright Prep. He began playing varsity for UMS-Wright Prep as an 8th grader. Bronson endured two hand surgeries, one at the end of high school and the other beginning in college. This held back his career in college, but he did not give up. Bronson had the opportunity to play for UA his senior year and qualified for the 2010 United States Amateur at Chambers Bay Golf Course in Place, Washington.“I think to do that and especially at UA, as good as they are, is a big goal to obtain, in which he did,” Holder said.